Tri-County Alumna Says Medical Assisting Grads
Must Be Multi-Skilled in Both Clerical and Clinical Activities

CONTACT: LISA GARRETT, EXT. 1506

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3/13/2003
(By Lisa Garrett)

ANDERSON --- A typical day for Certified Medical Assistant Myrtice Collier is always hectic – it begins full speed and usually winds down at an equally brisk pace. She and her co-workers at Dr. Winston Floyd's office are juggling telephone calls, scheduling patients' appointments, clinical and clerical duties, and assisting with office procedures. "Our day starts with greeting our patients and handling calls from hospitals, pharmacies, patients, home health services and emergencies," said Collier. The rapid pace continues all day, but what would frazzle many is personally satisfying for Collier and has kept her in the profession for more than two decades.

"I enjoy helping others and treating patients like family," said Collier, who, since graduating from Tri-County Technical College in 1979 with an associate degree in health science with a major in Medical Assisting, has worked for Dr. Floyd in Anderson.

There is a big demand for the multi-skilled medical assistant, said Collier, and over the years, her duties have expanded because of the job responsibilities and because the medical practice has grown.

Today, Medical Assisting is a one-year diploma program at Tri-County and is designed to train students to become multifunctional health care workers in physicians' and medical offices -- a career that is in big demand. More medical assistants are employed by practicing physicians than any other type of allied health personnel.

The program prepares students to assist other health care providers with examination and treatment of patients. They also perform routine tasks required to help offices run smoothly. Specifically, students are trained to perform basic office procedures, insurance filing and laboratory tests. Clinical training includes checking a patient's vital signs, phlebotomy, giving injections and medications, EKGs, laboratory work, urinalysis and assisting with surgical procedures.

A medical assistant must be multi-skilled in both clerical and clinical activities, said Collier. Interpersonal skills are important, also. "You must make sure that the patient understands what he or she needs to do," she added. "You must be observant, and listen to a patient's needs so you can relay the information to the doctor."

Much of Collier's job is dealing one-on-one with patients, either in the waiting room or on the telephone. Patients call in and are referred to Collier and other nurses who listen to their problems and record the symptoms. "We then discuss it with Dr. Floyd who tells us how to handle the situation (make referrals or talk to pharmacists and to call the patient back). There is a lot of interaction with our patients on the telephone and in person," she said.

"We have a family atmosphere -- the patients know we care. Communication is a big factor in our jobs. If we don't understand them, then we aren't helping them. We take time with every patient. We stay positive and make a difference. It's a team effort here – we work well together, and we rely on each other."

Continuing education classes are a must, she says. "I'm still learning 24 years later because technology changes so quickly."

"I really enjoy my work with Dr. Floyd," said Collier, who interned with him while a student. "My co-workers are like family. Many also are Tri-County grads: Carolyn Boseman, an LPN, Barbara Fleming, office manager and Angela Hallums, receptionist, both Medical Assisting grads, and Brenda Edwards, transcriptionist.

Collier is dedicated to her alma mater and serves on Tri-County's Medical Assisting Advisory Committee and is an advocate for students. "I had caring teachers at Tri-County," she said, who understood her competing priorities, such as family, job and studies. "I remember (Medical Assisting instructor) Mary Louise Kolberla said 'don't give up on us and we won't give up on you.' They made accommodations for the students' needs," said Collier, who, like many Tri-County students today, juggled school, a family and a job. "That really helped."
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